MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday announced additional free shuttle routes for healthcare workers affected by the month-long quarantine imposed in Luzon due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) croisis.
In an advisory, the DOTr said it will be deploying 74 vehicles in 13 routes.
It initially only had three routes and and 10 buses.
“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) continues with the mission to ferry health personnel to their workplaces daily, as its free ride for health workers rolls out on its third day,” the DOTr said.
The free bus service will now serve health workers in 13 routes:
NORTHWEST AREA
Route 1 (Meralco in Malanday – United Doctors Medical Center in Welcome Rotonda)
Meralco (Malanday)
Valenzuela City General Hospital
MCU Hospital (Monumento)
Caloocan City Medical Center
Tondo General Hospital
Our Lady of Fatima
Metropolitan Medical Center
San Lazaro Hospital
Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
University of Sto. Tomas Hospital
Chinese General Hospital
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)
Route 2 (Valenzuela Gateway Complex – United Doctors Medical Center in Welcome Rotonda)
Valenzuela Gateway Complex
Quezon City General Hospital
Balintawak
MCU Hospital (Monumento)
Our Lady of Fatima University
Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center
Philippine Orthopedic Center
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)
Route 3 (SM City in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan – Centris Station along Quezon Ave.)
SM City SJDM (Bulacan)
Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial (Caloocan)
SM Fairview
Diliman Doctors Hospital
Veterans Memorial Medical Center
Lung Center of the Philippines
Philippine Heart Center
East Avenue Medical Center
Philippine Children’s Hospital
Centris Station (EDSA / Quezon Ave.)
EAST AREA
Route 4 (SM City Masinag – The Medical City in Ortigas)
SM City Masinag
Marikina Valley Medical Center
Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center
BFCT East Metro Transport Terminal
Quirino Memorial Medical Center
Araneta Center Bus Terminal
Robinsons Galleria
The Medical City – Ortigas
Route 5 (Ortigas Hospital & Healthcare in Cainta to Rizal Medical Center)
Ortigas Hospital & Healthcare (Cainta)
SM City East Ortigas
Pasig City General Hospital
The Medical City Ortigas
Robinsons Galleria
VRP Medical Center
St. Luke’s Medical Center
Rizal Medical Center
CENTRAL AREA
Route 6 (Centris Station along Quezon Ave – MRT 3 Araneta Cubao Station)
Centris Station (EDSA / Quezon Ave.)
Providence Hospital
Capitol Medical Center
Philippine Orthopedic Center (Banawe)
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)
National Children’s Hospital
De Los Santos Medical Center
St. Luke’s Medical Center (E. Rodriguez)
UERM Memorial Medical Center
MRT-3 Cubao / Araneta Center
CENTRAL/EAST AREA
Route 7 (Pasig City General Hospital – Makati Medical Center)
Pasig City General Hospital
Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral
Pasig Rotonda
Rizal Medical Center
The Medical City (Ortigas)
Robinsons Galleria
Cardinal Santos Medical Center
VRP Medical Center
National Center for Mental Health
Makati Medical Center
SOUTHEAST AREA
Route 8 (Starmall in Alabang to St. Luke’s Medical Center in BGC)
Starmall – Alabang
SLEX Sucat Exit
Bicutan Exit
Makati Medical Center
St. Luke’s Medical Center – BGC
Route 9 (Vista Mall, Daang Hari – United Doctors Medical Center in Welcome Rotonda)
Vista Mall, Daang Hari
Perpetual Help Medical Center (Las Piñas)
Las Piñas General Hospital
Baclaran Market
San Juan de Dios Educational Medical Center
Pasay City General Hospital
Adventist Medical Center
Makati Medical Center
Philippine General Hospital
Manila Doctors Hospital
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)
Route 10 (RITM – Starmall in Alabang)
RITM
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Muntinlupa City Hospital
Starmall – Alabang
Route 11 (Starmall in Alabang – Manila Doctors Hospital)
Starmall – Alabang
SLEX Sucat Exit
Bicutan Exit
San Juan de Dios EFI – Hospital
Gil Puyat Station LRT-1
Philippine General Hospital
Manila Doctors Hospital
Route 12 (SM Molino – Manila Doctors Hospital)
SM Molino
Imus Transport Plaza
Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
Baclaran Market
San Juan de Dios Educational Foundation Hospital
Gil Puyat
Adventist Medical Center Manila
Philippine General Hospital
Manila Doctors Hospital
Route 13 (Seaoil Imus Daang Hari/Aguinaldo – Starmall in Alabang)
Seaoil Imus Daang Hari/Aguinaldo
Imus Transport Terminal
Las Piñas General Hospital
Perpetual Help Medical Center
RITM
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Muntinlupa Hospital
Starmall Alabang
The DOTr said that buses will transport passengers to these designated routes, and vice versa at 5 a.m., 7 a.m, 1 p.m., 3 p.m. 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The DOTr said 72 buses and two modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) “have committed to transport health workers for free along the specified routes, which are still subject to change depending on the data and requests coming from the Department of Health (DOH).”
The DOTr clarified that the free rides are not restricted to doctors and nurses.
“This will also be made available to other hospital workers such as administration personnel, utility workers, security officers, and other health workers such as pharmacists, caregivers, and the like,” it said.
The bus service will likewise comply with DOH containment protocols such as the observance of social distancing, body temperature checks, and regular disinfecting of vehicles. Drivers and health workers will also be given food and water, the DOTr noted.
“Of all the distress this virus has caused, one of the good things it has brought forth is the indomitable bayanihan spirit of the Filipino people. Our frontline health workers have sacrificed so much, leaving the comfort of their homes to fulfill their sworn duty to save lives. And now, we have our drivers too to safely bring our warriors to the battlefield,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
The same bus service scheme is also being advised to be replicated for all regions in Luzon while the enhanced community quarantine is being enforced, the DOTr added.
The free bus service is implemented in cooperation and close coordination with multiple government agencies and private bus companies.